Spring structure.



G. A. FRANZ.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1912.

1,133,949, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATT FFTQE.

GUSTAV A. FRANZ, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JACKSON CUSHIONSPRING COMPANY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed July 8, 1912. Serial No. 708,139.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV A. FRANZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Structures,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring structures.

One object is to provide a spring structure embodying among othercharacteristics means whereby when the structure is upholstered theremay be formed at the front edge thereof a roll with a minimum amount ofhair and upholstering material and which will produce not only anattractive front but provide a soft, pliable roll at the upper frontedge in contradistinction to the usual stiff edge and common squarefacing efiect.

Another object resides in the provision of a spring structure whosefront row of springs are arranged in advance of the upper frame and thefront of the structure thereby rendered exceedingly pliable.

A still further object is to provide a durable, yet efficient andpliable spring structure for car, automobile or other seats having atits upper front edge a plurality of projecting coils to provide for arolling or rockinglike effect at the upper front portion of thestructure under the weight of the rider.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the combi nation and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, proportion, size and minor details withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 isa side view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view through theupper portion of the structure on the line aa of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings there is shown upper and lower frames 4 and 5, respectively.Connected to the lower frame 5 in any suitable manner are springsupporting wires 6 upon which latter and connected thereto by means ofsuitable clips 7 are springs 8. These springs are preferably arranged inrows with the rows from the rear to the front gradually increasing inheight. The upper frameis disposed on an incline and preferablyterminates at its front edge at the rear of the front row of springs 8and is preferably connected at its front to the rear of the front row ofsprings by means of suitable clips 9. The springs 8 have their upperconvolutions preferably connected by clips 10 with the clips 10 at thesides of the structure within the upper frame also connecting theoutermost side springs to the sides of the upper frame. Suitable clips10 may connect the rear springs to the rear of the upper frame.

Connected to the clips 10 of springs which aline from front to rear areyieldable steel bands 11 which extend over the front edge of the upperframe and project beyond the same and also beyond the front row ofsprings with their front extremities coiled as indicated at 12 toprovide means whereby the upholsterer may readily form a pliable roll atthe front of the structure at the upper portion thereof with a minimumamount of hair and upholstering material, thereby saving considerabletime and expense in building up a roll with upholstering material. Apliable roll formed in this way obviates a stiff upper front edge andthereby affords ease and comfort to the rider. I have designed thisparticular embodiment of invention as a differing structure from thatdisclosed in the application of Watson R. Smith, Serial No. 668,720,filed December 30, 1911, and disclaim inventorship of the broadinvention involved. in my application in view of the disclosure in saidSmith application, believing said Watson R. Smith to be entitled to adominating claim over me, and believing myself entitled to a claim orclaims for the specific differences which exist between said priorapplication of said Smith and the structure illustrated in the drawingaccompanying my specification.

The front row of springs being arranged in advance of the upper frame,the entire front of the present structure is more pliable and resilientthan it would be if the upper frame be connected at its front edge tothe outer edges of the front row of springs because there is nostiffness in the spring structure whatever in the upper portion of thestructure in advance of the upper frame. The result is that the front ofthe structure at the upper portion thereof is not stiff but exceedinglypliable which, together with the provision for the formation of apliable overhanging roll at the upper front portion of the structure,provides a spring capable of giving complete comfort and ease to therider.

It will be seen that the extreme forward ends of the material of whichthe coils 12 are formed are located within the respective coils and ifdesired, these coils may be embraced or surrounded by strips of fabric12 which fabric may be secured to the structure by holding them betweenthe upper convolutions of alining springs and the correspondingyieldable bands 11 by the clips 10. The outer end of the material may bedirected around the coils and secured to the body of the fabric by meansof suitable clips 12 thereby confining the coils Within the fabric withthe free extremities of the forward ends of the bands 11 and locatedwithin the coils. These fabric strips 12 cooperate with the bands andthe coils in supporting the hair and other upholstering material (notshown) which is placed on the structure when upholstering the same.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a simple, inexpensive,durable, efficient and extremely pliable spring structure for automobileor other seats and, as the upper frame preferably inclines with relationto the lower frame, there is a tendency of the rider being thrownbackwardly toward the rear of the seat incident to jarring of thevehicle striking an obstruction in the roadway.

hat is claimed is 1. A spring seat structure comprising a frame, springssupported on the frame, a plurality of spaced yieldable bands connectedto the top of the structure and at their forward ends extendingover andbeyond the front of the structure and coiled upon themselves with theforward extremities of the bands terminating within the coil and withthe coils terminating above and spaced from said frame and forming aplurality of forwardly extending rounded projections at the upper frontportion only of the structure so as to provide for the formation of apronounced, outstanding, pliable, collapsible, hollow, upholstered rollwith a minimum amount of upholstering material located at the upperfront edge only of the structure.

2. A spring seat structure comprising a frame, rows of springs mountedon the frame, yieldable bands connected to the upper convolutions ofalining springs and projecting over and beyond the front springs, saidprojecting ends of the bands being formed into coils, and fabricmaterial secured to the top of the structure between said bands and theupper convolutions of alining springs and wrapped around said coils.

3. A springstructure comprising a frame, springs supported on the frame,a plurality of spaced yieldable bands connected to the top of thestructure and at their forward ends extending over and beyond the frontof the structure and coiled completely upon themselves and therebyforming substantially complete circular projections wholly in advance ofthe front springs, said circular projections being unconnected with thefront row of'springs and terminating above and spaced from said framesoas to provide for the formation of a pronounced, outstanding, pliable,collapsible, hollow, upholstered roll with a minimum amount ofupholstering material located at the upper front edge only of thestructure.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAV A. FRANZ.

lVitnesses:

JEANNETTE P. WENGER, XV. B. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may bc obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0*.

